Abstract: A water soluble polymer thin film of polyvinyl alcohol is manufactured and placed in contact with the skin, or through a buffering layer of cream, and then lightly sprayed on the exposed side with water to achieve conformal contact with the skin microstructures by transition from a solid state to a partial liquid/solid or gel state, and then upon drying back to a solid state. As the polymer thin film dries it contracts over a prolonged period, thereby producing a tightening effect of sustained tensile and compressive forces propagating through the skin surface layers with concurrent modulation of sensory nerve endings of the peripheral nervous system, with certain therapeutic effects depending upon the applied area, including reducing pain associated with arthritis or soreness of joint areas, inducing a relaxed and attentive cognitive state, inducing inflammation control or relief of cellular hydrostatic pressure, and reducing gastric reflex.

Abstract: A method for the duplication of microscopic patterns from a master to a substrate is disclosed, in which a replica of a topographic structure on a master is formed and transferred when needed onto a receiving substrate using one of a variety of printing or imprint techniques, and then dissolved. Additional processing steps can also be carried out using the replica before transfer, including the formation of nanostructures, microdevices, or portions thereof. These structures are then also transferred onto the substrate when the replica is transferred, and remain on the substrate when the replica is dissolved. This is a technique that can be applied as a complementary process or a replacement for various lithographic processing steps in the fabrication of integrated circuits and other microdevices.

Abstract: A thermal cycling module for thermally processing a substrate has a thermally-conductive support structure with a planar first side and a second side with a plurality of recesses. A heater is disposed on the first side of the support structure and a fluid distributor positioned beneath the second side of the support structure to direct a coolant onto the support structure to decrease the temperature of the substrate. The fluid distributor may have a plurality of rotatable arms and a plurality of nozzles attached to each arm.